rich or they would never have selected Spruce Hollow as a place to gain wealth. But being naturally of a contented turn of mind it did not require much of this world's goods to make them happy. And now that their children were fast gaining health from breathing the pure mountain air they felt entirely satisfied with their lonely retreat and with the thought that their children might be a blessing to them now, and a comfort to them if they should live to declining years. With such musings in their minds they felt perfectly happy.
But alas! with them, as with all others, how uncertain are all earthly enjoyments. Grief and woe unutterable was at their very door, and they knew it not. The dark cloud without a silver lining was fast gathering over their heads and they had no knowledge of what a single hour would bring forth to them.
It was on the 24th day of April, 1856, that Samuel Cox while at breakfast heard his dog barking in the woods about one-eighth of a mile from his cabin, and, as his dog usually had a squirrel treed when he barked this way, Mr. Cox remarked to his wife that if his dog should continue to bark until he was through his breakfast
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